Discussion: Rate of Return

Public health officials support routine care and prevention efforts by conducting cost-effectiveness analyses. In addition to cost-effectiveness analyses, economic analyses are also used to determine the value of the benefits associated with investments in large-scale testing, or the financial return-on-investment (ROI). Such analyses provide essential data to the decision-makers within government agencies that must optimize outcomes for public health given a set budget, and may assist with resource allocation during times of economic constraint. Economists then evaluate the results of a return-on-investment analysis that compares expenditures of the public health initiative to benefits in terms of illnesses averted and associated medical care costs reduced.

For this Discussion, review the media, âMulti-Media PowerPoint on Capital Financing,â and the Learning Resources. Consider a public health initiative outside of your Scholar-Practitioner Project. Think about rate of return and any challenges this may pose to the public health initiative you are considering. Then, utilize the principles of rate of return as a means of justifying the use of finances for this initiative.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 4

Post a (2 page, 3-4 References, APA format) description of a public health initiative (other than your Scholar-Practitioner Project). Describe at least two challenges of quantifying the rate of return for this public health initiative. Using the principles of rate of return, explain whether the financing this initiative is justified.